Strawberry plant named `Gaviota`

ABSTRACT

`C205` is a new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant of the short-day type which produces greater quantities of late-season fruit than the cultivars `Chandler` and `Camarosa` when grown in central California. Fruiting plants of `C205` are smaller and more compact, more open, more erect, and less vigorous than plants of `Chandler` or `Camarosa`.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

There are no related applications.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinctive short-day type strawberry cultivar designated as `C205`, which resulted from a cross performed in 1991 between advanced selections Cal 87.112-6 and Cal 88.270-1. The cultivar is botanically identified as F. ×ananassa Duch.

`C205` was first fruited at the University of California Wolfskill Experimental Orchard, near Winters, Calif. in 1992 where it was selected, originally designated Cal 91.248-2, and propagated asexually by runners. Following selecting and during testing the plant of this disclosure was designated `CN205`. With the decision that this plant was to be released, it was given the name `Gaviota` for the purposes of introduction into commerce and for international registration and recognition. Asexual propagules from this original source have been tested at the Watsonville Strawberry Research Facility, the South Coast Research and Extension Center, and to a limited extent in grower fields starting in 1994.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the general flowering and fruiting characteristics of the plant.

FIG. 2 depicts a typical mature leaf during late spring.

FIG. 3 depicts representative mid-season fruit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

`C205` is typical of short-day strawberry cultivars and produces fruit over an extended period when treated appropriately in arid, subtropical climates. The production pattern for `C205` is similar to that for `Chandler` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262) and `Camarosa` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,708), although it produces greater quantities of late-season fruit than either cultivar in central California, and is somewhat later to initiate fruiting than `Camarosa`. `C205` will be of special interest for winter plantings , where `Chandler` and `Camarosa` have been successful, and in summer plantings where `Pajaro` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,538) has been successful.

Plants and foliage: Fruiting plants of `C205` are smaller and more compact, more open, more erect, and less vigorous than plants of `Chandler` or `Camarosa`. Comparative statistics for foliar characters near mid-season are given for the three cultivars in Table 1. Individual leaflets for `C205` are larger than for `Chandler` or `Camarosa`, and somewhat more rounded. Leaves (including petioles) are similar in length and broader than those of `Chandler`, and shorter and broader than those of `Camarosa`. Petioles are thicker and more stiff than those of `Chandler` and are similar to those of `Camarosa`. Also, the upper surface of leaves for `C205` are darker than either `Chandler` or `Camarosa` and the lower surfaces are somewhat lighter (Table 2). Leaves of `C205` have variable leaf convexity, are generally more concave than leaves of `Chandler` or `Camarosa`, and have fewer and more rounded serrations than the comparsion cultivars.

Isozymes in leaf extracts: `C205` has been classified for three isozyme systems using starch gel electrophoresis (Table 3): Phosophoglucoisomerase (PGI), Leucine Aminopeptides (LAP), and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM). It is distinguishable from `Chandler` but not from `Camarosa` using this methodology. For electrophoretic procedures see: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687.

Disease and pest reaction: `C205` is moderately susceptible to common leaf spot (Ramularia tulasnei) and Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae), relatively resistance to powdery mildew (sphaerotheca macolaris) and Anthracnose crown rot (Colletotrichum acutatum). When treated properly, it has tolerance to two-spotted spidermites (Tetranychus urticae) equal or greater than `Chandler` and `Camarosa`. `C205` is tolerant to strawberry viruses encountered in California.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Foliar characteristics for `C205`, `Chandler`, and `Camarosa`                  Foliar     Cultivar                                                            Character  `Chandler`  `Camarosa` `C205`                                       ______________________________________                                         Mid-tier leaflet                                                               Length (mm)                                                                    mean        64.1        68.7       71.7                                        range      57-69       60-83      66-85                                        Width (mm)                                                                     mean        61.8        64.2       65.7                                        range      55-66       56-80      61-74                                        Mid-tier leaf                                                                  Length (mm)                                                                    mean       110.0       131.9      122.1                                        range      100-122     115-146    115-134                                      Width (mm)                                                                     mean       119.5       121.5      119.2                                        range      109-135     110-147    108-145                                      # Leaflets/leaf                                                                           3           3          3                                            Leaf convexity                                                                            most concave,                                                                              flat-convex,                                                                              convex, few                                             some        some concave                                                                              flat or                                                 flat/convex            concave                                      Serrations                                                                     number     med-many    few        few to                                                                         moderate                                     shape      semipointed rounded, some                                                                             rounded to                                                          semipointed                                                                               semipointed                                  Leaf       moderate    light-moderate                                                                            moderate                                     pubescence                                                                     Petiole pubescence                                                             density    mod.-heavy  heavy      heavy                                        direction  perpendicular                                                                              perpendicular                                                                             perpendicular                                                       to acropetal                                            ______________________________________                                    

Flowering, fruiting, fruit, and production characteristics: Comparative statistics for flower and fruit characters near mid-season are given for `C205`, `Chandler` and `Camarosa` in Table 4. The primary flowers for `C205` are similar in size to `Chandler` and `Camarosa`; the sepals are somewhat larger than for `Chandler` and substantially smaller than for `Camarosa`. The calyx for `C205` varies from slightly indented to slightly necked, and each primary flower has 4-6 petals. The fruit shape for `C205` can vary but is typically a rounded conic, and is easily distinguished from `Chandler` (flat conic, with some long conic) and `Camarosa` (shortened flat conic). External and internal fruit color for `C205` is darker than `Chandler` and slightly darker than `Camarosa` (Table 2). Achenes vary from yellow to dark red, and are even with the first surface or occasionally slightly extruded.

`C205` has been tested under a variety of cultural regimes, and optimal performance is obtained when nursery treatments and nutritional programs similar to those for `Chandler` and `Camarosa` are used. In general, `C205` is less adapted to very early season planting but less sensitive to excess chilling than `Camarosa`. `C205` retains excellent fruit quality in summer planting systems.

When treated with appropriate planting regimes, `C205` has larger fruit and produces greater yields than `Chandler` (Table 5); `C205` has lower yield but equal or larger sized fruit than `Camarosa`. `C205` is similar to `Chandler` in its production pattern, somewhat later to initiate production than `Camarosa`, and produces substantially more late-season fruit than either comparison cultivar (with conventional winter planting in central California). Commercial appearance ratings have been comparable to or better than those for `Chandler` and `Camarosa`. Fruit for `C205` is substantially firmer than fruit and `Chandler` but slightly less firm than `Camarosa`. Subjectively, `C205` has very good flavor, somewhat less aromatic than `Chandler`, but with better balance and texture than `Camarosa`. The fruit will be outstanding for both fresh market and processing, and will be useful for home garden purposes.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Foliar and fruit color characteristics for `C205`,                             `Chandler`, and `Camarosa`                                                     Color    Cultivar                                                              Character                                                                               `Chandler`   `Camarosa`                                                                               `C205`                                         ______________________________________                                         Leaf color (CIELAB)                                                            Adaxial                                                                        L*                                                                             mean     33.4         33.2      30.2                                           range    30.2-37.8    30.9-34.3 28.8-31.8                                      a*                                                                             mean     -7.5         -7.2      -6.3                                           range    -6.7--8.6    -5.6--8.9 -5.6--7.5                                      b*                                                                             mean     16.9         14.7      11.1                                           range    14.7-21.2    13.4-17.7 9.5-13.8                                       Munsell  5GY 5/6      2.5GY 5/5 2.5GY 5/5                                      Abaxial                                                                        L*                                                                             mean     48.9         48.7      49.1                                           range    47.1-50.0    47.3-50.0 46.9-50.3                                      a*                                                                             mean     -7.6         -7.6      -7.8                                           range    -6.3--8.2    -7.3--8.3 -7.3--8.2                                      b*                                                                             mean     21.1         20.7      18.6                                           range    18.3-23.6    19.8-21.8 16.8-20.1                                      Munsell  5GY 4/3      5GY 4/3   5GY 4/3                                        Fruit color (CIELAB)                                                           External                                                                       L*                                                                             mean     24.0          25.7     23.9                                           range    22.6-25.7     22.3-28.0                                                                               22.1-25.1                                      a*                                                                             mean     26.9          22.0     23.9                                           range    23.9-29.2     16.7-28.0                                                                               21.4-25.1                                      b*                                                                             mean     13.9          26.8     12.4                                           range    10.0-16.3     24.5-28.5                                                                               9.5-16.9                                       Munsell  5R 5/13       2.5R 4/10                                                                               5R 4/12                                        Internal                                                                       L*                                                                             mean     45.5          44.6     48.7                                           range    42.0-49.9     38.4-52.0                                                                               45.5-51.3                                      a*                                                                             mean     39.0          39.6     33.1                                           range    32.6-43.1     34.3-41.5                                                                               30.3-36.0                                      b*                                                                             mean     29.4          26.7     24.2                                           range    24.7-33.8     24.5-28.5                                                                               21.2-27.2                                      Munsell  5R 6/11       7.5R 5/13                                                                               5R 5/13                                        ______________________________________                                          *CIELAB is the abbreviation of the international color system known as         "Commission Internationale De L'Eclairage" 1978. Recommendations on            uniform color spaces    color difference equations, psychometric color         terms, Supplement No. 2 to CIE Publication No. 15. PARIS.                

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Isozyme phenotypes for `C205`, `Chandler`, and `Camarosa`.                     Cultivar                                                                       locus   `Chandler`    `Camarosa`                                                                               `C205`                                         ______________________________________                                         PGI     A1            A2        A2                                             LAP     B3            B3        B3                                             PGM     C1            C1        C1                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         Flower and fruit characters for `C205`,                                        `Chandler`, and `Camarosa`                                                               Cultivar                                                             Character   `Chandler`                                                                              `Camarosa`  `C205`                                        ______________________________________                                         # petals                                                                       mean        5.8      5.5         5.1                                           range       5-7      5-7         4-6                                           Flower position                                                                            even to  most even   exposed                                       (relative to                                                                               exposed  some exposed                                              foliage)                                                                       Calyx diam. (mm)                                                               mean        39.6     64.3        43.2                                          range       33-44    40-77       35-55                                         Corolla diam. (mm)                                                             mean        38.9     35.9        37.7                                          range       37-42    31-40       35-41                                         Fruit shape                                                                    length/width                                                                   ratio       1.10     1.15        1.10                                          range       1.00-1.43                                                                               0.96-1.19   1.08-1.12                                     subjective  conic to flat conic  mostly rounded                                            flat conic                                                                              to flat     conic, some                                                                    flat conic                                    Calyx position                                                                             slight neck                                                                             event to slight                                                                            even to slight                                                     indent      indent                                        Seed position                                                                              even     even to slight                                                                             even                                                               indent                                                    ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Performance of `C205`, `Chandler`, and `Camarosa`                              evaluated at the Watsonville Research Facility in 1995 and                     1996. All plants for these trials were harvested from                          Macdoel on October 17, and transplanted after one week                         supplemental storage. Harvest was initiated in early April                     and continued through the first week of September. (52" 2-                     row beds, 17,300 plants/acre, 100 grams/plant = 316.3                          crates/acre)                                                                            Yield     Appearance Size                                             Item     (g/plant) Score      (g/fruit)                                                                             Firmness                                  ______________________________________                                         `Chandler`                                                                              1,372     3.1        22.9   6.1                                       `Camarosa`                                                                              1,820     3.7        26.3   7.8                                       `C205`   1,443     3.7        27.4   7.3                                       ______________________________________                                     

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant substantially as herein described and illustrated. 